MEDIA RELEASE

Detectives assigned to the East Hawaii Criminal Investigations Section were searching for Costa in the Eden Rock subdivision in upper Puna on Monday afternoon (July 17, 2006) when an individual flagged them down and reported seeing Costa run into nearby brush. A short while later, police found Costa crouched near a fallen tree. He had obvious injuries to his face. Police immediately summoned Hawaii Fire Department personnel.

Costa reported being recently assaulted by an unknown acquaintance of one of the alleged murder victims. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery for injuries he allegedly sustained in the assault.

Detectives arrested 38-year-old Moki Makaio of Kailua-Kona for second-degree assault early Monday evening. After conferring with prosecutors, Makaio was released the next day pending further investigation.